Travis County

Travis County, Texas, located in the central portion of TX, consists of 989 square miles on the eastern edge of the mysterious Edwards Plateau. The Edwards Plateau is honeycombed by caves and aquifer, providing homes to dozens of rare and endangered plant and animal species.

Austin, the state capital, is the county seat of Travis County, Texas. The county is bordered by Williamson County to the north, Bastrop County to the east, Caldwell County to the south, Hays County to the southwest, Blanco County to the west and Burnet County to the northwest. Cities in this county include: Austin, Pflugerville, Wells Branch, Lakeway, Windemere, Shady Hollow, Lost Creek, Lago Vista, West Lake Hills and Hudson Bend.

The county is named in honor of William Barret Travis, the commander of the Republic of Texas forces at the Battle of the Alamo, the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history. In 1827, the Mexican government granted Stephen F. Austin land that was located east of the Colorado River. Settlers began moving into the area in the early 1830s, but the Texas Revolution and the constant threat of raids by the Comanche Indians delayed further settlement in the area. In 1840, when Austin, then known as Waterloo, was chosen for the state capital, Congress established Travis County, naming it in honor of William Barret Travis.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Travis County had a 2008 population of 998,543 residents. This was a 22.9 percent increase from the 2000 census. The Texas state average was a 16.7 percent increase in population. The median household income was $53,209.

Travis County's outdoor recreational opportunities, fine dining, and cultural and historical attractions have had a major economic impact on the county. Tourism spending in Travis County grew from $2.35 billion in 2003 to $2.80 billion in 2006. About 14.6 million travelers visited the numerous attractions in the county in 2006. The Central Texas climate is ideally suited for year-round outdoor recreation.

Travis County institutions of higher learning include Austin Community College, Austin Graduate School of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Concordia University, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Huston-Tillotson University, St. Edward's University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Transit and transportation options in Travis County include Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 183, U.S. Highway 290, State Highway 71, and State Highway 130 as major roadways. Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) provides public transportation in the state capital.

The Travis County Healthcare District is helping to make the region a healthy community by promoting the health and wellness of the residents of Travis County, especially the uninsured. The Travis County Healthcare District is a separate political subdivision of the state of Texas and is not a part of Travis County Government. The district owns the University Medical Center-Brackenridge and coordinates with other health care providers in the county to make sure all Travis County residents receive health care services.

The Travis County Jail and the Travis County Criminal Justice Center are located in downtown Austin. The Criminal Justice Center includes criminal courts, probation offices, and the District Attorney's Office. The Criminal Courts are located in the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, 509 W. 11th St., Austin, TX 78701. The Civil Courts are located in the Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701.

The Travis County Correctional Complex is located in an unincorporated area in Travis County. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Travis County Unit, a state jail for men, in eastern Austin.